The Board of Health went over its marijuana dispensary rules work with the public for a final time before finalizing the regulations in a vote expected next month.

The 7 page draft is meant to dovetail with state laws governing medical marijuana facilities but gives some local say over any potential dispensary – specifically for permitting and how the marijuana could and couldn’t be sold.

Though Walpole is not targeted for a marijuana dispensary currently, the state could choose to open further applications down the road.

"Perhaps it’s not a bad idea to have regulations in place should that happen at a future date," said Health Board chairman William Morris.

A vote to finalize the regulations is expected at the board’s next meeting on March 11 in Town Hall.

Though discussion about the regulations were scarce at Tuesday’s public hearing attended by three residents, Health Director Robin Chapell said she’d like to run the work before an attorney prior to any vote – meaning the draft could change between now and next month.

Resident Peg O’Donnell asked if the town could potentially benefit financially from siting a dispensary in town but Chapell said that, in her discussions with police, it appears additional law enforcement costs needed for such a business would outweigh any influx in revenue.

Chapell and the board, however, assured residents any marijuana dispensary cited in Walpole would be on the up and up – strictly regulated by the state, secure and locally monitored – and very much comparable to an ordinary pharmacy.

To be considered, a potential marijuana dispensary owner must prove experience and pass a stringent and expensive application process, board members said.

"So, obviously they’re getting that money and they want to make more money," board member Carol Johnson said about security systems that would be in place.